THE EARLY YEARS

Nathan Bedford Forrest and his twin sister were the second and third children born to William and Mariam Forrest. Bedford, as he was called, was born in Bedford County, Tennessee in 1821. At the time, Bedford County was the largest county in the area. Redistricting, in 1836, "moved" the birth home to Chapel Hill. 

In 1834, the family settled in Tippah County, MS, not far from the small town of Salem. William Forrest died when Bedford was only sixteen. About three years later, the family contracted "the fever." Bedford eventually recovered, but he lost two of his six brothers, and three sisters, including his twin, Fannie. 

ADULTHOOD

Bedford Forrest was essentially uneducated, spending his youth clearing land, and working in fields. Adventurous and restless, in 1841 at the age of 21, Bedford joined a small company of volunteers and out for Texas to help the state in her struggle for independence. However, by the time they arrived, the struggle was over. Bedford returned home, where he endured another lengthy illness. 

In 1845, Bedford married Mary Montgomery. Six years later, Bedford moved his family to Memphis, where for a short time, he served as an alderman. He resigned the position in 1859, and moved his family to Coahoma County where he became a successful cotton planter. In 1861, his profit reached $30,000. By that time Nathan was considered one of the wealthiest planters in the area. 

THE WAR YEARS

In June, 1861 Nathan Bedford Forrest enlisted as a private in White's Tennessee Mounted Rifles, refusing to use his wealth or influence to buy a commission. However, within a few days a contingency of Memphis citizens convinced Governor Harris and General Polk that Forrest should be given greater responsibility. Bedford's first assignment was to raise a battalion of mounted rangers. 

And so began four years of brilliant leadership by Nathan Bedford Forrest. Many books have been written about the cavalry forces led by Bedford, so I will only touch very lightly on a few highlights:

• July 13, 1862, Murfreesboro, TN - With 2,000 Cavalry, Forrest captured a brigade-size force under General T. T. Crittenden.
• September 12, 1862, Chickamauga Creek, TN
• December, 1862 - Forrest severed Grant's supply lines, including 60 miles of railroad track on the only railroad line that connected Holly Springs with Columbus, KY. Forced forced a retreat of both Grant and Sherman's forces.
• Spring, 1863 - Forrest's cavalry force of less than 500 men captured more than 1600 Union troops in northern Virginia.
• Spring & Summer, 1864 - Conducted numerous raids in Kentucky, Tennessee, and the Mississippi River area.
• June, 1864 - Battle at Brice's Cross-Roads.
• August, 1864 - Captured the Union headquarters in Memphis.
• November, 1864, Nashville, TN
• May 4, 1865, Citronelle, AL - Forces, under Forrest, were surrendered by Confederate General Richard Taylor, to E. R. S. Canby.

POST-WAR YEARS

After the war, Bedford returned to Mississippi, where, for a time, he ran a large plantation in Coahoma County with his business partner, a Federal officer. After a short time, he sold his plantation, and returned to Memphis where, in 1868, he was sent as a delegate to the first presidential election. In later years, he was instrumental in halting Reconstruction, which he felt had taken the South out of it's countrymen's hands. 

Bedford's last years were spent in various activities. At one point Bedford traveled to New York in an unsuccessful attempt to arrange financing for a railroad. Not only was the endeavor a lost case, Bedford spent a great deal of money defending himself against lawsuits arising from the failed project. 

Concerned about is wife's frail health, Bedford leased President's Island, opposite the town of Memphis, where he contributed the remainder of his fortune to Confederate veteran charities. 

In about 1876, Bedford was taken ill with Diarrhea, an ailment which began to wear away at his health. His last public speech was before the Seventh tennessee Cavalry in September, 1876. Pale and thin, Bedford said, "Soldiers, I was afraid that I could not be with you today, but I could not bear the thought of not meeting with you, and I will always try to meet with you in the future." 

Such was not to be the case. Bedford's health continued to decline, and slightly over one year later, on October 29, 1877, General Nathan Bedford Forrest died at the age of fifty-six. 

Bibliography

Battlefields of the Civil War, by William C. Davis; Smithmark Publishes, Inc., NY, 1991. 

Battle Maps of the Civil War, American Heritage, by Richard O'Shea; Published by Smithmark, New York, 1992. 

Bedford Forrest and His Critter Company, by Andrew Nelson Lytle; Published by J. S. Sanders & Company, Nashville, TN, 1993, 1995, 1996. 

Fightn' With Forrest, by Charles Gordon Yeager. 

The Civil War, by Douglas Welsh; Galahad Books, NY, 1982 

The Civil War and Reconstruction, 2nd Edition Revised, by J. G. Randall and David Donald; D. C. Heath and Company, Lexington, Massachusetts, 1969. 

The Many Faces of the Civil War, by Irving Werstein; Published by Julian Messner, New York, 1961, 1968. 

WebSites

About North Georgia - Notables

Nathan B. Forrest Biography

Nathan B. Forrest State Park - TN

Nathan B. Forrest, (That Devil Forrest, Wizard of the Saddle) 

The Home of the American Civil War - Biographies

The Grave of Nathan Bedford Forrest

Official Website of the Lt. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest Monument

Suggested Reading

General Forrest, by Captain J. Harvey Mathes 

Personal Recollections and Experiences in the Confederate Amy by an Old Johnnie, by Captain James Dinkins. 

The Life of General Nathan Bedford Forrest, published by Harper and Brothers. 

The Campaigns of Lieut. - General N. B. Forrest and of Forrest's Cavalry, by General Thomas Jordan and John B. Pryor